Corpus Christi police: Homeowner says he shot potential burglar

Man may have been part of group that was trying to burglarize home that had been broken into earlier

Corpus Christi police respond to a call from a resident in the 600 block of Sam Street who said he shot a man trying to break into his home.

CORPUS CHRISTI - A homeowner told police he shot a man Thursday afternoon who he said was trying to break into his home through a back window.

The 29-year-old called police about 12:45 p.m. reporting that he shot the man at his home, which has been repeatedly burglarized, said Sgt. Tony Acevedo, spokesman for the police department.

Neighbors saw the wounded man running through backyards in the 600 block of Sam Street. A police report filed Tuesday also reported witnesses seeing three people leaving the area in a blue Suburban, Acevedo said.

About 1:15 p.m. a 20-year-old man walked into Corpus Christi Medical Center-Bay Area with a gunshot wound in his torso, Acevedo said. The man, who was put under police guard, was considered to be in life-threatening condition and was transferred to Christus Spohn Hospital Memorial, he said.

A woman who accompanied the man to Bay Area was questioned and a blue Suburban parked near the hospital was impounded.

Police later arrested an 18-year-old man on suspicion of burglary of a habitation. Officers also detained a 16-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl, police said. Bond had not been set by a judge for the 18-year-old man late Thursday.

The incident began when a man and woman knocked on the front door of the Sam Street home. When the homeowner didn't answer, the man went around to the back and began breaking into a window, Acevedo said.

"It's too close to home," said Adan Garza, 74, a neighbor whose family heard the gunshot.

A few houses away said the neighborhood is usually quiet.

"We've lived here 40 years and never had these kind of problems," said Angelita Velasquez. "I hope this is the end of it."